Houston Matters
Fires that release chemicals are not among the factors under consideration for renewing chemical plant permits
Posted on · Air Alliance Houston's Jennifer Hadayia walks us through the permitting process for chemical plants.
Tag: chemical fire
Houston Matters
Overuse of school suspension (May 9, 2023)
Posted on · On Tuesday's show: Are some predominantly Black schools in HISD suspending more students than they need to? We learn more about a Houston Chronicle investigation. And we find out what a hurricane is like from the inside from NOAA's Hurricane Hunters.
Houston Matters
Was the 2019 ITC chemical plant fire in Deer Park worse than we thought?
Posted on · New analysis from the Texas Tribune found that benzene lingered in the air far longer than initially reported.
The ITC Chemical Fire
2 Years After Disastrous Deer Park Chemical Fire, Texas Close To Creating New Safety Rules For Industry
Posted on · Sen. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston, spent years negotiating with industry groups to get new regulations placed on the chemical industry after the ITC fire in 2019. The bill has passed both chambers, but small changes need to be ironed out before it is sent to Gov. Greg Abbott.
Houston Matters
What We’ve Learned From Chemical Fires In Recent Years (April 9, 2021)
Posted on · On Friday's show: Lessons Houston has learned from our rash of chemical fires over the past few years, helping Black-owned restaurants survive the pandemic, The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week, and The Voice contestant Zae Romeo.
Energy & Environment
‘This Is How We Defend Ourselves’ — Harris County Residents Install DIY Pollution Monitoring Network
Posted on · The Houston Ship Channel is the petrochemical capital of the country, but in one city, the state's environmental agency only has one air monitor. So, a group of clean-air advocates in east Harris County are taking matters into their own hands.
Energy & Environment
New Air Monitoring Plan Aims To Reduce Pollution, Prevent Chemical Disasters In Houston Area
Posted on · One of the goals is to prevent industrial disasters from occurring in the first place by identifying potentially problematic facilities for additional inspections and oversight.
Energy & Environment
Judge Drops Arkema CEO From Criminal Case Stemming From Chemical Fire During Harvey
Posted on · The company and its former Crosby plant manager still face charges for reckless emission of air pollutants.
Energy & Environment
Opening Statements Conclude In Arkema Criminal Trial
Posted on · Witnesses will take the stand this week in the criminal trial that centers around fires that broke out a Crosby chemical plant during Hurricane Harvey.
Energy & Environment
Harris County Sues EPA Over Chemical Safety Rules
Posted on · The government overturned the rules in 2019, saying they were no longer “reasonable or practicable.”
Houston Matters
Tuesday’s Show: How A State Takeover Of HISD Would Work, And Practicing Haitian Vodou (Dec. 3, 2019)
Posted on · On Tuesday's Houston Matters: We examine the history of the Port Neches chemical plant where explosions and a fire occurred last week. An expert walks us through how the impending state takeover of the HISD board might work. A bug expert answers your questions. And we meet a local practitioner of the Haitian Vodou religion.
Energy & Environment
Harris County Sues Exxon Mobil Just A Day After A Fire Broke Out At The Company’s Baytown Refinery
Posted on · In a complaint filed Thursday morning, Harris County accuses Exxon Mobil of “unauthorized emissions into the atmosphere,” saying multiple air pollutants including “propylene, LPG, propane, and associated products of combustion” were released.
Houston Matters
Full Show: Chemical Fire Extinguished, New Kashmere Principal, And Writer Bryan Washington (March 20, 2019)
Posted on · On Wednesday's Houston Matters: The latest on the fire at a Deer Park chemical facility, a discussion of the latest political news, Kashmere High School's new principal, and writer Bryan Washington.
Houston Matters
Full Show: Deer Park Fire Update, And Coming To Terms With The South (March 19, 2019)
Posted on · On Tuesday's Houston Matters: An update on the fire at a Deer Park chemical facility, details on how Proposition B will be implemented, and a discussion on lingering notions of the reasons behind the Civil War.
Houston Matters
Full Show: Deer Park Chemical Fire, And Houston Airports (March 18, 2019)
Posted on · On Monday's Houston Matters: The latest on the continuing fire at a Deer Park petrochemical facility, answers to your questions about Houston airports, exploring the city's Nigerian community, and the latest on local sports.